Pro-equality Republican Representative Mark Beaubien dies at 68
Mon. June 6, 2011 6:40 AM by GoPride.com News Staff
state rep. mark beaubien jr.
photo credit // ilga.gov
Barrington Hills, IL -
State Rep. Mark Beaubien Jr., one of the most influential and principled legislators in Illinois, died Sunday. The seven-term Republican from Barrington Hills voted for both the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act, as well as voting in favor of adding ‘sexual orientation' to the Illinois Human Rights Act.
Rep. Beaubien, 68, collapsed at a House Republican fundraiser at Arlington Racetrack Sunday and efforts to revive him were unsuccessful.
"He will be sorely missed," said Lowell Jaffe, Political and Policy Director for The Civil Rights Agenda, "Representative Beaubien was a statesman, he voted his conscience and wasn't afraid of the prevailing political winds."
Rep. Beaubien was one of only two House Republicans who stood in support of the historic civil unions legislation last November.
"I recall the time that Rep. Beaubien stood in support of Rep. Deb Mell after she announced her engagement to longtime partner Christin Baker on the floor of the Illinois House of Representatives," said TCRA Executive Director. "He stood for the will of the people and that is the mark of a true Representative. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family."
Funeral arrangements are pending.
Rep. Beaubien, 68, collapsed at a House Republican fundraiser at Arlington Racetrack Sunday and efforts to revive him were unsuccessful.
"He will be sorely missed," said Lowell Jaffe, Political and Policy Director for The Civil Rights Agenda, "Representative Beaubien was a statesman, he voted his conscience and wasn't afraid of the prevailing political winds."
Rep. Beaubien was one of only two House Republicans who stood in support of the historic civil unions legislation last November.
"I recall the time that Rep. Beaubien stood in support of Rep. Deb Mell after she announced her engagement to longtime partner Christin Baker on the floor of the Illinois House of Representatives," said TCRA Executive Director. "He stood for the will of the people and that is the mark of a true Representative. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family."
Funeral arrangements are pending.